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Author Archives: Honesta Romberger
Put Your Market on the Map for National Farmers Market Week
Honesta Romberger July 5, 2018We’re teaming up with our friends at Farmspread to help markets celebrate National Farmers Market Week! Farmspread created a nationwide NFMW Directory Page that helps markets boost their visibility and plans for the annual event. Communities can use the directory to find a celebrating market near them, and learn more about their special activities, events, and more.…
National Farmers Market Week Media Kit
Honesta Romberger July 3, 2018National Farmers Market Week is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the ways your market makes a difference in your community! But finding the time and resources to share these benefits can be difficult. That’s why we created the NFMW Media Kit. Everything you need to promote and prepare for National Farmers Market Week is here, all in…
Murkowski introduces Alaska specific farm bill
Honesta Romberger June 22, 2018Via Daily New-MIner FAIRBANKS — Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski has introduced an Arctic specific farming bill to address issues of food security, conservation and trade in Alaska. The Food Security, Housing and Sanitation Improvements in Rural, Remote and Frontier Areas Act of 2018 includes a series of Alaska and Arctic-specific initiatives compiled based on…
Markets. Farmers. Customers. Leaders. We are FMC!
Honesta Romberger June 13, 2018When farm bill discussions began earlier this year, we sent FMC members to Washington D.C. to advocate on behalf of small farmers and farmers markets. And when the harmful House farm bill was voted down last month, it was phone calls and emails to legislators from FMC members who helped make that happen. From fighting for a…
Bipartisan Senate Farm Bill Good for Farmers Markets
Honesta Romberger June 11, 2018by Ben Feldman, FMC Policy Specialist | ben@farmersmarketcoalition.org On Friday, the Senate Agriculture Committee delivered a bipartisan farm bill that stands in sharp contrast to the draft that failed in the House, particularly as it relates to farmers markets. While the House Bill slashed funding for key farmers market programs, the Senate Bill provides robust…
Big Island agriculture hit hard by volcano
Honesta Romberger June 8, 2018Via Hawaii Tribune-Herald KAILUA-KONA — A week and a half after the earth split open in Puna and the hazards of Kilauea began devouring and toxifying everything in their path, 67-year-old Garuda Johnson looked out his window. Seeing through the sulfur dioxide-laced haze of vog — which has measured quantities of SO2 as high as…
USDA reopens application period for producers recovering from disasters
Honesta RombergerMEDIA RELEASE – May 31, 2018 Signup Begins June 4 for Livestock Indemnity Program and Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting disaster assistance program applications on June 4 from agricultural producers who suffered livestock, honeybees, farm-raised fish and other losses due to natural…
UPDATE: Small Wins in Senate for Farmers Markets
Honesta Romberger June 6, 2018by Ben Feldman, FMC Policy Specialist | ben@farmersmarketcoalition.org With the Senate Appropriations Committee’s recent approval of the FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, the farmers market industry received a piece of good news. Key federal farmers market programs such as the Farmers Market Promotion Program, the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Program, and both the WIC and…
What does the House Farm Bill ‘No’ Vote Mean for Farmers Markets?
Honesta Romberger May 24, 2018by Ben Feldman, FMC Policy Specialist | ben@farmersmarketcoalition.org Last Friday, the House of Representatives voted down a draft of the farm bill, with thirty House Republicans joining all of the Democrats in voting ‘no’ on the bill. Thanks to YOU and our allies in food and farming who made their voices heard through visits, emails,…
Farm Bill Update: Uncertainty Looms as Bill Heads for Vote
Honesta Romberger May 16, 2018by Ben Feldman, FMC Policy Specialist | ben@farmersmarketcoalition.org The fate of the House farm bill is still unclear, but over 100 amendments have been proposed, mostly from Republicans, as the bill heads for a possible vote by the end of the this week. Democratic leadership has asked their members not to propose any amendments —…
